niversity of Maryland sophomore Sara Berman of Baltimore is a poster child for camp. She started going to Camp Louise an all-girls camp in Cascade, Maryland, at age 10, spent eight summers as a camper, and is now a counselor. “I remember being homesick at the beginning of that first summer, but when I left, I couldn’t wait to come back,” she recalls.

Tom Rosenberg, CEO and president of American Camp Association (ACA) says, “ACA believes that camp, day or overnight, provides an environment created just for children. At camp they learn real life skills, develop self-esteem, and gain a sense of independence and community. Whether children are playing, exploring nature, conquering new heights, or becoming part of a camp family, they are creating memories that will last a lifetime.”

Berman can attest to that.

“Besides making life-long friends, camp gave me skills that helped prepare me for college and my future. It taught me to be independent, problem solve, live in a communal environment, and try new things.”

Even before the pandemic, many kids spent too much time on their screens. Camp provides a welcome break from technology. “We’ve found older kids really feel good about not having to keep up with texting friends, Instagram, and their Facebook page,” notes Rosenberg.

Unless a camp is geared to technology, cell phones at overnight camp are often collected and given back at the end of the session. Even most day camps don’t allow cell phones.

“At camp everything is 100 percent in person,” says Rosenberg. “Children have the opportunity to participate in human-powered activities and to learn important skills like communicating, socializing, collaborating, resilience, and empathy. Camp is a welcome opportunity to work on their human skills and be physically active, especially after this time of prolonged social isolation.” All these skills will be important in a camper’s future.

Today, the camp market has definitely widened. There are many different flavors, from traditional day and overnight camps to specialty camps. Facilities may include skate parks, go-karts, and zip lines. A camp might have pottery, silver works—even glassblowing. There are cooking camps and camps themed to wilderness skill building, circus performance, and debate. If you have a camper with a special need there are camps for kids with dyslexia, asthma, and diabetes. And if you want a camp with a little religion mixed in, you can find that, too.

Rosenberg says, “Now more than ever before, kids need camp. With the pandemic, many children lost ground with social and educational skills, while others had mental health issues.” Alicia Berlin, director of Camp Louise, says, “In summer 2021 we hired a mental, emotional, and social health director who oversaw a team of 11 people on our Wellness Team throughout the summer. We plan to have a similar model of professionals to support campers and staff this summer.”

COVID-19 still remains a factor for both administrators and campers. Last summer, kids enjoyed activities in pods, overnight camps had fewer children in bunks, many day camps limited the number of children, and camps kept children on campgrounds. As much as we all thought and hoped COVID would be behind us, it’s not.

For camp 2022, Rosenberg says, “Think fluid and flexible. No one knows what COVID will be like. Depending on how it is acting, camps will have to be flexible.”

Jon Bisset, executive director at River Valley Ranch camp in Carroll County, is cautiously optimistic for the season ahead. Bisset says that they offer a wide variety of camps on their 500-acre campus, from overnight to day camps and, “This summer, we are hoping to be up to full capacity.”

Still, he adds, “What’s important is that camp be safe and provide a meaningful experience for the kids.”

Camp Resource Guide 2022

FOLLOWING IS A LIST of just some of the camps in or near Maryland offering everything from religious study and computer skills to sports training. As with all things impacted by COVID-19, camp schedules are subject to change. Visit the camp website or call for the most up-to-date rates, dates, and COVID-19 policies, as well as to register.

BALTIMORE LAB SCHOOL
2220 St. Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21218.
410-261-5500. baltimorelabschool.org.
Designed for students in grades 1-12 with learning differences, this program has a low student-teacher ratio, on-site specialists, and an innovative arts-based curriculum. Baltimore Lab School’s summer program is designed to help students discover their strengths, exercise their creativity, overcome academic difficulties, and prepare for the school year ahead. Session runs July 5-29.

BETH TFILOH
400 Delight Meadows Rd., Reisterstown, MD 21136.
410-517-3451. btcamps.org.
Located on 70 acres, “BT camps” offers a range of traditional and specialty camps for kids ages 2-15. The facility includes four swimming pools and an aquatics center (with a triple-decker, double-barreled water slide), a lake with boats and a 25-ft slide, as well as arts and crafts, ropes course, zip line and plenty of ballfields and green space for play. June 20-August 12.

CAMP CENTER STAGE
700 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202.
410-332-0033. centerstage.com.
Baltimore Center Stage will host three summer sessions for children in grades K-12. Each session is themed to “Creative Impressions,” and will explore everything from dance and improv to acting and STEAM activities. Sessions run June 27-August 5.

CAMP FAIRLEE
22242 Bay Shore Dr., Chestertown, MD 21620.
410-778-0566. campfairlee.com.
Camp Fairlee is a traditional overnight summer camp located outside of Chestertown on the Eastern Shore. Programs are for children and adults aged 6 and up. Camp is for people of all abilities, providing accessible recreation
for campers and family respite. Accessible activities include canoeing, kayaking, wall climbing, swimming, nature trails, and indoor games. There is a health center staffed with nurses. June 26-August 14.

CAMP JEMICY
11 Celadon Rd., Owings Mills, MD 21117.
410-753-8032. jemicyschool.org/camps.
The five-week summer camp for coed students ages 6-14 run by Jemicy School offers skills instruction, tutoring, and recreation for children with dyslexia and other related language-based learning differences. Full, half-day, and extended-day programs offered. June 27-July 29.

CAMP HORIZONS
3586 Horizons Way, Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
540-896-7600. camphorizonsva.com.
ACA accredited since 1983, Camp Horizons specializes in sports, outdoors, arts, sciences and technology, aquatics, outdoors, and equestrian activities as well as classic camp traditions! Open to campers ages 6-16. Camps will run June 12-August 14.

CAMP PUH’TOK
17433 Big Falls Rd., Monkton, MD 21111.
410-329-6590. camppuhtok.com.
Located on over 60 wooded acres in northern Baltimore County, Puh’tok has provided kids 5-16 with camp activities that emphasize leadership, appreciation of nature, and teamwork since 1942. Activities include archery, pony rides, swimming, tubing, and zip lines. Day and overnight camps are available. Camp will be open in one-week sessions from June 27-August 19.

THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE
2800 Edison Hwy., Baltimore MD 21213.
410-732-6200. thecatholichighschool.org.
This school offers a variety of programs from June-August. For the most up-to-date programs, visit the website.

CENTER FOR JEWISH CAMPING
5708 Park Heights Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215.
201-417-0294. livecamp.org.
If you’re looking for a Jewish summer experience that’s perfect for your child, consult Alli Muser for free, unbiased, and personalized guidance for families considering Jewish day or overnight camp. The Center for Jewish Camping is a collaboration between The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and The Louise D. and Morton J. Macks Center for Jewish Education.

CHESAPEAKE BAY OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
1900 Eagle Dr., Baltimore, MD 21207.
410-448-1721. outwardboundchesapeake.org.
Expeditions are open to middle and high school students and teach students technical skills like navigation, camp craft, the basics of backpacking or rock climbing, and much more. As students learn these skills in challenging situations, they also learn the value of teamwork, compassion for others, and the pursuit of excellence. Check the website for excursion dates.

COLLEGE SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AT GETTYSBURG COLLEGE
300 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA 17325.
717-337-6924. gettysburg.edu/offices/conference-event-services/summer-programs.
Gettysburg College offers several virtual and in-person camps for high school students. Each one-week program is led by noted faculty, and campers can explore subjects including psychology, creative writing, and Civil War Era Studies. The school also offers several athletic camps. Visit website for rates and session dates.

COLUMBIA ACADEMY
Five locations in Columbia, Ellicott City, and Fulton.
columbiaacademy.com.
Every week, elementary and middle school campers explore a new theme. Just a few activities include engaging STEM activities, team-building quests, outdoor water days, and planned weekly virtual field trips and enrichment.
Sessions run June 13-August 19.

FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY SUMMER CAMPS AND SCHOOL
4744 James Madison Hwy., Fork Union, VA 23055.
434- 842-3212. forkunion.com.
Fork Union will offer three athletic-themed summer camp programs this year. Camp is for ages 7-17 (some are coed). There is also a non-military summer school program that combines academic study, leadership development, athletic activities, and summertime fun. Summer activities are located in Central Virginia.

GILMAN SUMMER!
5407 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21210.
410-323-3800. gilman.edu/community/gilman-summer.
Enrichment and skill-building programs for kids grades K-12 designed and taught by Gilman faculty and field experts. Camp experiences include art programs, STEM courses, cooking and music, foreign language, and sports camps as well as Young Scientists, Makerspace, Outdoor Experience, and Nature Explorers camps. Camps will run June 6-July 1.

GLENELG
12793 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21042.
410-531-8600 ext. 2157. glenelg.org/summer.
Glenelg offers a variety of camps from traditional day and sports camps, to specialized camps for everyone from the budding chess player to nature explorers. There’s even a training program for high school students ready to move up as counselors, and campers enrolled in Adventure Camp take off-campus trips for hikes and to tour local landmarks like Fort McHenry. Camp runs June 20-July 29.

HARFORD DAY SCHOOL CAMP
715 Moores Mill Rd., Bel Air, MD 21014.
410-838-4848. harfordday.org/community/summerprograms.
This independent school located in Harford County offers an annual summer camp experience. Check the website for more details.

HOWARD COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL
8510 High Ridge Rd., Ellicott City, MD 21043.
410-313- 2787. hocoarts.org/camp.
This year, campers may select from a wide range of age-appropriate visual and performing arts camps, including Cardboard Creations, Dance & STEAM, Monster Madness, Tiny Playwrights, and much more. Camps conclude with an exhibit or performance of student work on the last day of each camp session. Programs are open to the public, regardless of residency, for grades K-7. There are full and half-day programs as well as before and after care available. Sessions run June 27 -August 26.

ID TECH CAMP AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY
8000 York Rd., Towson, MD 21252.
1-888-709-8324. idtech.com.
Students ages 7-17 can code using Java, design video games, engineer robots, produce a YouTube series, and more. Kids meet new friends and gain a competitive edge for school and future STEM careers. One-week sessions run June 20-August 1.

IMAGINATION 101 SUMMER ARTS CAMP
4701 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210.
410-472-4737. charmcityplayers.com.
This nonprofit camp conducted by Charm City Players at the LeClerc Auditorium at Notre Dame of Maryland University offers two-week performing arts classes for boys and girls ages 7-16, including acting, dancing, and singing. June 20- July 1: Shrek The Musical Jr.; July 11-July 22: Seussical Jr. the Musical; July 25-August 5: Disney High School Musical Jr.; August 8-August 19: Disney The Lion King Jr.

IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES
1810 Valleybrook Dr., Kingsville, MD 21087.
410-879-4460. funandgamescamp.com.
Held on the 20 secluded acres of Valleybrook Country Club, this camp is open to children K-13 looking for old-fashioned fun! Activities include swimming, tennis, nature and science exploration, arts and crafts, field trips and special visitors, and individual and team sports. Camp runs June 20-August 19.

J CAMPS
3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, MD 21117.
410-559-2391. jcampsbaltimore.org.
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore has 10 camps for all ages and stages of life. JCC’s facilities include a performing arts center, ceramics studio, adventure park, nature trails, and tennis courts, plus their signature swim lesson program. In addition to before and after care options, JCC offers express bus routes. Sessions run June 20-August 12.

MARYVALE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
11300 Falls Rd., Lutherville, MD 21093.
410-308-8551. maryvale.com/about-maryvale/events/camps.
Each summer, Maryvale Preparatory School offers a variety of camps that are led by varsity coaches and esteemed professionals. These camps are open to Maryvale students as well as local middle and high school students. This year’s camps include athletic camps, musical theater programs, art camps, and architecture/technology camps. Camp sessions run June 20-July 20.

MCDONOGH SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS
8600 McDonogh Rd. Owings Mills, MD 21117.
443-544-7100. mcdonogh.org.
McDonogh offers extensive summer programs for ages 4-18, including traditional day camps, arts and academic experiences, STEM-centric camps, and day and overnight sports clinics. Camps utilize the school’s many facilities including riding rings, fishing ponds, an arts center—even a rock-climbing tower and ropes course.

MERCY HIGH SCHOOL’S “MAGICAL SUMMER”
1300 E. Northern Pkwy., Baltimore, MD 21239.
410-433-8800. mercyhighschool.com/summer.
A Magical Summer is open to rising 6-8 grade girls. Campers will be coached and instructed by Mercy faculty and coaches, area professionals, and Mercy Girl athletes and artists. Weekly sessions are offered in different areas such as dance and musical theater. There are also athletic camps such as soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse. Sessions run June 20-August 11.

MICA SUMMER ART CAMP
1300 W. Mt. Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21217.
410-225-2219. mica.edu/artcamp.
Have a budding artist? Then the art camp at Maryland Institute College of Art may be just the place for your camper this summer. Camp is open to children in grades K-12. Sessions run June 6-July 29. Check the website for more details.

THE PARK SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE-PARK CAMPS
2425 Old Court Rd., Baltimore, MD 21208.
410-339-7070. parkcamps.com.
Park’s experienced staff welcomes children ages 3½–15 for exciting summer activities hosted on its 100-acre campus. In addition to traditional day camp activities, age-specific camps offer sports and games, nature exploration, and music and movement. June 27-July 29.

RED BARN RANCH
175 Klees Mill Rd., Sykesville, MD 21784.
301-933-6888. redbarnranch.com.
This traditional day camp is open to kids in K-6 grades. Campers engage in arts & crafts, science, sports—even high ropes. All staff have had FBI and CPS background checks, and have been trained by Kids After Hours and Maryland State licensed trainers to ensure a safe and fun summer experience. Before and after care are available. June 17-August 26.

SUMMER AT GARRISON FOREST
300 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills, MD 21117.
410-559-3433. gfs.org/summer.
Summer at Garrison Forest has extensive program options, including traditional day camps, specialty camps, equestrian camps, and overnight programs. Campers can play nearly every sport, including riding and polo, express themselves in an array of arts programs, make STEM discoveries, learn to cook, and more. Before and after care, lunch, and combo camp packages available. Located on Garrison Forest School’s 110-acre campus, Summer at Garrison Forest runs from June 6-August 19.

SUMMER NATURE CAMP AT IRVINE
11201 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills, MD 21117.
443-738.9200. explorenature.org/summercamp.
Campers learn about nature in Maryland by exploring and playing in the woodlands, meadows, wetlands, and streams of Irvine Nature Center’s 211-acre campus. Campers get up, get active, and get outdoors daily! Led by professional educators, offering different themed programs weekly, no two sessions are alike. Irvine Summer Nature Camp 2022 will run from June 20-August 26. Full-day and half-day options available for 3-12 year-olds, with a new Counselor in Training program for ages 13-17.

SUMMER CAMP AT THE ODYSSEY SCHOOL
3257 Bridle Ridge Ln., Lutherville, MD 21093.
410-580-5551. theodysseyschool.org.
The Odyssey School’s camp is a specialized summer program for children with language learning differences in grades 1-8. The camp incorporates an individualized, structured academic experience in the mornings, designed to promote ongoing skill development in the areas of reading, written language, and math, followed by afternoons of outdoor activities and athletics. Full and half day options. June 27-July 29.

SUMMER AT THE ST. PAUL’S SCHOOLS
111232 Falls Rd., Brooklandville, MD 21022.
443-632-1083. stpaulsmd.org/summer.
The St. Paul’s Schools offer a range of coed and single-gender programs for children ages 5-17, including Gatorland Day Camp, sports, arts, cooking, and babysitting training. June 13-August 12.

YMCA CAMP CONRAD WEISER
201 Cushion Peak Rd., Reinholds, PA
17569. 610-670-2267. smymca.org.
Part of the South Mountain YMCA camps located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Camp Conrad Weiser offers overnight experiences for boys and girls ages 7-15. There are traditional camps as well as specialty camps like the Immersive Literary Theme Camps and Horse Riding Specialty Camp. Camp offers three-tiered pricing to serve families with different abilities to pay. Check the website for the many session dates.

Incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan and his Democratic challenger, former NAACP president Ben Jealous, squared off in a lively, at times contentious, debate Monday hosted by Maryland Public Television.

The two candidates painted vastly different portraits of the state, with Hogan, not surprisingly, making the case that Maryland is on the right track and Jealous challenging that assertion at every opportunity.

Jealous went after Hogan on the state’s economy, noting employment remains below that of other states in the region, the declining performance of public schools, rising health care costs and violent crime rates in Maryland, the cancellation of the Red Line mass transit project in Baltimore, and the still-escalating opioid epidemic.

Firing back, Hogan defended his record of holding the line on tax increases, fees, and business regulations, and cited positive economic progress. When Jealous stated Maryland has been “dead last in the region with job growth,” Hogan, who repeated campaign condemnations of the direction of the state under his predecessor, Martin O’Malley, answered, “We’ve had one of the greatest economic turnarounds in the nation.”

According to a Baltimore Sun post-debate fact-check, Maryland ranks fourth out of five state and the District of Columbia in job creation.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is voters would be served by another debate—or two—which would help clarify and sharpen the candidate’s facts, positions and agendas. In 2014, Democratic Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and then GOP-nominee Hogan participated in three televised debates, all of which were held in October, the month before the general election.

Hogan is vying become the first Maryland Republican to be re-elected governor in more than six decades. Jealous, if elected, would be the first black governor in Maryland history and just the third black governor elected in U.S. history. Currently, there are no sitting black governors in the country.

Along with battles over education funding, teacher pay increases (Jealous proposes a 29 percent raise for teachers) and a vision for improving schools, transportation proved a major area of contention. Hogan pitched his work in improving the Washington, D.C. Metro subway, his green light of the Montgomery and Prince George’s Purple Line, and increased spending on highway expansion between D.C. and the Maryland suburbs, and elsewhere in the state. Jealous countered that Hogan’s I-270 and I-295 transportation projects amounted “toll lanes for rich people” and would not solve the state’s daily traffic woes, which include some of the longest commuter times in the country.

Hogan attempted to portray Jealous as an outsider from California, noting he had not registered to vote in the state prior to 2012, but at the same time opened the door to one of Jealous’ most compelling moments of the debate. Jealous, whose parents’ biracial marriage was not legal in Maryland when they wed in 1966, were both Baltimore public school teachers and civil rights activists. Jealous recounted his own life story and that of his family, including his 101-year-old grandmother who never left the city, as well as his frequent summer visits to Baltimore, which he described as “home.”

Hogan touted his bipartisan efforts with the General Assembly to pass tougher gun control measures, stop proposed Trump Administration efforts to cut Chesapeake Bay restoration funding, and passing criminal justice reform legislation to reduce the state’s prison population. He also described Jealous’ Medicare-for-All, universal pre-K and free community college proposals, and other initiatives as too burdensome on taxpayers and “reckless.”

He characterized Jealous’ intention on further reducing the state’s prison population as an effort “to put murderers and rapists and repeat violent offenders back on the street.” Jealous, noting he has lost family members in Howard and Prince George’s counties to violence, responded that Hogan’s remarks were “out of the old [GOP] playbook right from Willie Horton to Donald Trump.”

Jealous also tried to tie Hogan to the president’s immigration policies—the governor sent Maryland National Guard troops to the Mexican border, for example—as well as controversial Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, a supporter of private charters and private school vouchers. Hogan responded by saying he called the Maryland troops back to the state and merely accompanied DeVos to a reading at Montgomery County school as he did previously with previous education secretaries.

Jealous also forced the governor to defend his record on the opioid epidemic in the state, pointing to huge increases in overdose deaths statewide in recent years, and saying it took Hogan too long, two years, to declare a state emergency after running on the issue four years ago. Hogan replied that he was the first governor in the country to declare a state of emergency around the public health epidemic.

Afterward, Jealous supporters, including former Democratic primary challenger state Senator Rich Madaleno praised his performance. “You can see why the Governor doesn’t want to have another debate,” Madaleno said.

“This is the tipping point in this race,” said Baltimore City Council member Brandon Scott, a former candidate for lieutenant governor on Democratic primary challenger Jim Shea’s ticket.

The Hogan team was equally confident about his performance.

“We’re up 22 points,” said Doug Mayer, Hogan’s deputy campaign manager. “Nothing that happened in that room is going to change that.”

Election Day is November 6, with early voting beginning October 25 and running through November 1.

However top political communications consultant Ruth Sherman believes that, while Carson’s debate performance improved at the third GOP debate, he has a long way to go in that format. As a media coach, she thinks Carson remains too soft spoken.

“He was significantly looser in his presentation [at the CNBC debate]. He was more prepared and his presentation was more engaging, though his physical and vocal affect are still too quiet,” she says. “His voice is especially monotonous, which causes a mismatch. He is unable to show excitement or display passion. His facial expression is flat, though he didn’t close his eyes as much, which is a bad habit.”

Karen Bradley, the director of graduate studies in dance at the University of Maryland and a movement analysis expert, says that one of Carson’s strengths is that he speaks in clear, short phrases and can be animated with his eyes—“they can twinkle”—and hands. Carson, however, she says doesn’t generally give the impression that he fully “stands behind” what he says with strong “core” positioning, in the manner other, more practiced candidates do.

In that way, Carson shares a certain characteristic with Trump that may be helping voters identify with each political newcomer. Notably, neither of the two GOP leaders comes across as overly rehearsed in their speech. “We call this ‘flow’ and it’s fun to watch,” Bradley says. “They say what they think and move from topic to topic.”

Essentially, in terms of communication, it is this lack of self-censoring that is appealing about outsider candidates. Of course, it’s the same quality that makes both Carson and Trump prone to controversial statements.

“Carson appeals to the nonpolitical type, he’s someone who is viewed an uncorrupted by the political system,” says Shawn Parry-Giles, director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Political Communication and Leadership. “He says: ‘I’m not a debater, I’m just a person trying to do the right thing’ and that is really appealing right now.’”

On the other side of the aisle, Martin O’Malley’s communication skills, which can vary widely and send mixed messages, can be harder to parse. “I’ve seen him as ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ and ‘Mr. Nasty,’” Vatz said.

None of the experts we spoke with believe that the former Baltimore mayor and former two-term governor with a liberal record of accomplishment in Annapolis doesn’t mean what he says. He just doesn’t communicate “authenticity”—the signature quality primary campaigns are about when party activists are looking for candidates they can back with enthusiasm.

“He comes off as ‘too smooth,’” said Parry-Giles. “He wants to be the ‘cool guy,’ the Obama-figure—the young, energetic guy—but he hasn’t taken off and it’s too late now.”

O’Malley, in many ways, has been stuck in the outside lane, unable to get in-between Sanders, the self-declared socialist, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the establishment candidate.

It’s somewhat ironic, Parry-Giles said, that Bernie Sanders is one the seen as against the establishment. “He’s unkempt and unpolished, but he’s a lifelong politician, too.”

But while Sanders’ Brooklyn accent, at times, uncombed hair and emphatic gesturing communicate ‘genuineness,’ O’Malley often misses the authenticity target because his anger can feel rehearsed and his smiles ill-timed or forced.

“Psychoanalysts—and I’m not one—call this ‘misplaced affectation,’” Vatz said, referring to O’Malley’s occasional mismatched expression and context.

On the other hand, Bradley says, O’Malley on the stump or at the podium, speaks with a “tremendous” amount of core support, which communicates that’s he engaged and “stands behind” what he says. O’Malley is able to turn his body and look directly at other candidates on stage. He’s also able to look into the camera and use his smile, effectively, at times. O’Malley’s main problem, as Bradley sees it, is that he speaks in very long phrases that may be hard for some people to follow.

“He’s not easy to understand in the way that Bill Clinton is,” she said.

Cohen agrees with Bradley and takes it a step further. He says not only does O’Malley—a well known policy wonk—speak in phrases that are too wordy; he also tries to squeeze in each of his talking points when he’s interviewed on television or standing on the stage. The combination inevitably makes his presentation more awkward and stiff than necessary.

“It always looks like he’s trying to get everything he’s written down on his ‘3 by 5’ cards into his allotted time,” Cohen says. “That’s why he struggles to communicate on a deeper level with voters.” In Maryland, the University of Baltimore political observer says, voters have had time to get to know O’Malley, but that’s not true outside the state.

In fact, in some ways, the challenge O’Malley faces is similar to one that Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush face. All three have strengths based on governing experience and knowledge of policy, but they are not the most gifted nonverbal communicators.

All three want to make the case want that they are the “competent” choice for voters—and, to their credit, put forth their policy plans. Not exactly a recipe for excitement or how we tend market things in the U.S., however.

In the end, it will be interesting to see where Carson and O’Malley land even if neither wins their primary nominations. Some, cynically, already view Carson’s campaign as largely an effort to enhance his brand and book sales. Some also believe that O’Malley’s realistic aim in the short-term is not the Democratic presidential nomination—though he would certainly accept it—but the vice-president slot or a cabinet level position.

“He’s a really smart politician. I consider him one of the smartest politicians around,” Vatz said of O’Malley. “I don’t think he’ll be making unnecessary personal attacks at Sanders or Clinton and take the risk of offending the party.”

This Friday at 8 p.m., MSNBC host Rachel Maddow will moderate a Democratic forum from Winthrop University featuring O’Malley, Clinton, and Sanders.

The next Republican debate, the GOP’s Fox Business Network debate from Milwaukee, WI, is scheduled for 9 p.m. Tuesday.